Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 25.6% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 87.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 40% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 97% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$7.74 PGK 31.61
162.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$48.51 PGK 198
53.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$5.95 PGK 24.28
93.11%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$2.41 PGK 9.85
111.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.92 PGK 3.77
176.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.74 PGK 3.02
185.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$2.85 PGK 11.64
113.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$4.48 PGK 18.27
58.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.92 PGK 7.82
-43.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.6 PGK 6.55
131.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$1.46 PGK 5.96
218.49%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$3.84 PGK 15.67
9.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$6 PGK 24.49
112.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$6.48 PGK 26.44
88.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$8.82 PGK 36.01
82.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$4.03 PGK 16.44
34.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.86 PGK 11.66
-39.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.77 PGK 19.47
-8.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$3.94 PGK 16.1
25.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.43 PGK 14.02
-16.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.43 PGK 9.93
26.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.86 PGK 11.69
-21.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.06 PGK 4.33
108.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$6.47 PGK 26.4
55.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$11.51 PGK 46.99
27.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.55 PGK 10.42
-25.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.49 PGK 14.25
1.43%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$0.5 PGK 2.03
412.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$28.44 PGK 116
124.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 $3.81
$5.29 PGK 21.61
-27.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.47 PGK 10.09
-28.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$16.57 PGK 67.6
83.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.08 PGK 4.41
-12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$24.4K PGK 99.5K
22.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$31.1K PGK 127.1K
-17.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$104 PGK 425
100.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$49.18 PGK 201
17.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$214 PGK 874
-66.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$63.9 PGK 261
-28.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$12.47 PGK 50.9
78.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$9.64 PGK 39.34
46.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$443 PGK 1,809
209.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$4,146 PGK 16.9K
439.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$35.37 PGK 144
45.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 $41.96
$35.57 PGK 145
17.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$67.9 PGK 277
30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$65.3 PGK 267
70.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 $1,731
$3,032 PGK 12.4K
-42.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$487 PGK 1,990
196.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,846 $2,846
$3,232 PGK 13.2K
-11.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$732 PGK 2,986
223.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,245 $3,245
$1,592 PGK 6,498
103.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,667 $2,667
$4,419 PGK 18K
-39.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,312 $4,312
$396 PGK 1,616
989.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
12.75
-48.94%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Last update for Papua New Guinea: October 29, 2025

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